Un-be-liev-a-ble! Another month is almost gone. Fortunately I have my journal or I probably wouldn't remember anything to tell you about since the last time. BUT, I have it by my side, so here goes.
One night on the way home from the metro, my roommate was robbed at gunpoint. She was unharmed as he ran away, but she had the major inconvenience of loosing credit cards, etc. Too bad for him that she only had about 200 roubles and she didn't have her camera, Kindle, passport, or anything valuable in her bag.
The last quarter started on April 2 so we're trying to put the push on for everyone to finish their goals for the year. It is difficult for some, especially those who have not cultivated any self-discipline so far. To make it even more of a challenge there are always interruption in the routine. On April 5 we went for our 3rd Quarter Honour roll outing. We took them to a Zoological Museum. Fascinating to look at all the exhibits and hear about some.
As you can see, I still haven't figured out how to have any control over where my pictures get placed on this blog, but I'll try to keep them with the right topic.
On Saturday April 14, we went with our friend to observe the blessing of foods for Easter at the Russian Orthodox church. They were lined up for at least a km. and the wait was about 2 hours, but it kept moving and was an interesting experience. when we finally got inside the church yard, there were long tables set up and you placed your food on these tables, placed a candle on them, lit it and waited. The priest and his assistant came along with a huge urn of holy water and the priest dipped a whisk-like brush into the water and sprinkle everything liberally. Then you wrapped it back up, loaded your basket and moved out-2 hour wait for 30 sec. experience. We did go inside the church to look around. It is right at the end of our street and we've been watching construction around there all year. (Now I'll try pictures again)
It was a beautiful day as if, on cue, spring had come.
I learned another new thing this year. The Sunday after Easter is called Doubting Thomas Sunday, and on checking in the Gospels I read that it was indeed 8 days after that Thomas saw Jesus. (John 20:26)
The weather went from winter to summer in about a week and now it's too hot for my jacket. The people with allergies are having a terrible time. We had lots of rain one day that took all the snow and flooded the street and school yard.
This was the week of Russian and English Languages at the school. There were lots of activities focused on this. Rallies, contests, debates which are all fun but once again takes away from the precious work time that is left. Today-Sat. Apr. 28 was the first of 3 Saturdays we will have school to make up for holidays we will have around May 1 and May 9. We work Sat. and then have Sun., Mon, and Tues.-May 1. Next week we work Sat.5 and then have Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed. for May 9. Then we'll work Thurs., Fri., Sat 12th. All very confusing and all part of the 21 school days we have left. So you can see why we have to really push the students when they are in the Learning Center. Also mixed in those 21 meager days will be rehearsals for Awards Night and Graduation and who knows what else to distract them. My co-worker has left today for her country of Kalmykia. Her sister has had a stroke. She will be gone until our holidays on May 9th end.
As part of this week's activities, the students of the Russian classes went today on an excursion to see the monuments of several Russian authors. I asked to go along with them as I want to see all I can before my time is gone. It was a beautiful day with lots of walking. The highlight for most of them was the lunch at McDonalds, but I really enjoyed it, learned some new info, and had a great walk.
The sad Gogol 
The happy Gogol
Pushkin and his wife
So that pretty much takes care of April. Summer has come and I have discovered that I have no clothes appropriate for these temperatures. It may require a shopping outing during my holidays. Sounds simple, but not so much. Maybe I'll have a story of that adventure next time. Until then, enjoy spring, and keep looking up. Blessings! ♥ ♥
One night on the way home from the metro, my roommate was robbed at gunpoint. She was unharmed as he ran away, but she had the major inconvenience of loosing credit cards, etc. Too bad for him that she only had about 200 roubles and she didn't have her camera, Kindle, passport, or anything valuable in her bag.
The last quarter started on April 2 so we're trying to put the push on for everyone to finish their goals for the year. It is difficult for some, especially those who have not cultivated any self-discipline so far. To make it even more of a challenge there are always interruption in the routine. On April 5 we went for our 3rd Quarter Honour roll outing. We took them to a Zoological Museum. Fascinating to look at all the exhibits and hear about some.
As you can see, I still haven't figured out how to have any control over where my pictures get placed on this blog, but I'll try to keep them with the right topic.
On Saturday April 14, we went with our friend to observe the blessing of foods for Easter at the Russian Orthodox church. They were lined up for at least a km. and the wait was about 2 hours, but it kept moving and was an interesting experience. when we finally got inside the church yard, there were long tables set up and you placed your food on these tables, placed a candle on them, lit it and waited. The priest and his assistant came along with a huge urn of holy water and the priest dipped a whisk-like brush into the water and sprinkle everything liberally. Then you wrapped it back up, loaded your basket and moved out-2 hour wait for 30 sec. experience. We did go inside the church to look around. It is right at the end of our street and we've been watching construction around there all year. (Now I'll try pictures again)
It was a beautiful day as if, on cue, spring had come.
I learned another new thing this year. The Sunday after Easter is called Doubting Thomas Sunday, and on checking in the Gospels I read that it was indeed 8 days after that Thomas saw Jesus. (John 20:26)
The weather went from winter to summer in about a week and now it's too hot for my jacket. The people with allergies are having a terrible time. We had lots of rain one day that took all the snow and flooded the street and school yard.
This was the week of Russian and English Languages at the school. There were lots of activities focused on this. Rallies, contests, debates which are all fun but once again takes away from the precious work time that is left. Today-Sat. Apr. 28 was the first of 3 Saturdays we will have school to make up for holidays we will have around May 1 and May 9. We work Sat. and then have Sun., Mon, and Tues.-May 1. Next week we work Sat.5 and then have Sun., Mon., Tues., Wed. for May 9. Then we'll work Thurs., Fri., Sat 12th. All very confusing and all part of the 21 school days we have left. So you can see why we have to really push the students when they are in the Learning Center. Also mixed in those 21 meager days will be rehearsals for Awards Night and Graduation and who knows what else to distract them. My co-worker has left today for her country of Kalmykia. Her sister has had a stroke. She will be gone until our holidays on May 9th end.
As part of this week's activities, the students of the Russian classes went today on an excursion to see the monuments of several Russian authors. I asked to go along with them as I want to see all I can before my time is gone. It was a beautiful day with lots of walking. The highlight for most of them was the lunch at McDonalds, but I really enjoyed it, learned some new info, and had a great walk.
Mikhail Sholokhov
He wrote about the Red Army and the White Army going different ways and the little horse in the middle didn't know which way to go, but that's all I understood. You can Google him for more.
The sad Gogol 
The happy Gogol
Bulat Okudzhava
Pushkin and his wifeSo that pretty much takes care of April. Summer has come and I have discovered that I have no clothes appropriate for these temperatures. It may require a shopping outing during my holidays. Sounds simple, but not so much. Maybe I'll have a story of that adventure next time. Until then, enjoy spring, and keep looking up. Blessings! ♥ ♥
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